The Chicago Tribune wrote:
The new test for foreigners who want to apply for Dutch residency is, well, very Dutch.
It features a DVD that illustrates various aspects of Dutch life, including, most notably, a topless woman frolicking in the surf and two men kissing warmly. The message couldn't be more explicit: This is who we are; if you don't accept it, don't come.
Although the DVD doesn't single out any particular group, the intended target of the message is clear. Growing numbers of conservative Muslim immigrants are seen by many Dutch as posing a threat to the Netherlands' liberal consensus and easygoing lifestyle.
[...]
The Dutch entrance exam, which became mandatory last month, has been praised by politicians who believe it is a good way of screening out people who are not suited to live in the Netherlands.
"It's like the warning label on the cigarette packs," said Marco Pastors, a Rotterdam city councilman whose Leefbaar Rotterdam Party has been labeled anti-Muslim for its support of strict immigration controls.
[...]
In addition to the brief scenes of nudity and homosexuality, the 104-minute DVD warns prospective immigrants that the weather in the Netherlands is cold, housing is expensive and the country is flood-prone. It also informs them that honor killing, wife-beating and female circumcision are crimes.
The exam preparation packet and DVD cost about $80. The materials are available in 14 languages, including Rif Berber, Kurdish, Indonesian and Thai. The fee to take the exam is $425, which also could discourage some candidates.
The test, based on information found on the DVD, will be administered at Dutch embassies. In addition to answering questions about the history and lifestyle of the Netherlands, applicants will have to demonstrate a basic competence in the Dutch language.
It features a DVD that illustrates various aspects of Dutch life, including, most notably, a topless woman frolicking in the surf and two men kissing warmly. The message couldn't be more explicit: This is who we are; if you don't accept it, don't come.
Although the DVD doesn't single out any particular group, the intended target of the message is clear. Growing numbers of conservative Muslim immigrants are seen by many Dutch as posing a threat to the Netherlands' liberal consensus and easygoing lifestyle.
[...]
The Dutch entrance exam, which became mandatory last month, has been praised by politicians who believe it is a good way of screening out people who are not suited to live in the Netherlands.
"It's like the warning label on the cigarette packs," said Marco Pastors, a Rotterdam city councilman whose Leefbaar Rotterdam Party has been labeled anti-Muslim for its support of strict immigration controls.
[...]
In addition to the brief scenes of nudity and homosexuality, the 104-minute DVD warns prospective immigrants that the weather in the Netherlands is cold, housing is expensive and the country is flood-prone. It also informs them that honor killing, wife-beating and female circumcision are crimes.
The exam preparation packet and DVD cost about $80. The materials are available in 14 languages, including Rif Berber, Kurdish, Indonesian and Thai. The fee to take the exam is $425, which also could discourage some candidates.
The test, based on information found on the DVD, will be administered at Dutch embassies. In addition to answering questions about the history and lifestyle of the Netherlands, applicants will have to demonstrate a basic competence in the Dutch language.
Good? Bad? Is it hypocritical for a "socially liberal" nation to effectively tell an ethnic/religious group "stay home" or is it justified by protecting the 'tolerant' policies from a growing conservative bloc that would like to change them?
Edited, Mon Apr 10 10:51:07 2006 by Jophiel
